Yukon seeks federal disaster relief funds for 2012 flood damage

The Yukon government is looking for help fromOttawa to help cover some of the $8 million bill associated with severe flooding in the territoryfour years ago.

Heavy rains in June 2012 caused mudslides, highway washouts and flooding in many areas across southern Yukon. Some of the worst damage was in the community of Upper Liard, where homes were evacuated aftera protective dike gave way.

Michael Templeton, manager of Yukon's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), said the territoryis now working on an application to Public Safety Canada for money through theDisaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. He said Ottawa won't cover all the $8 million, but could pay the majority of it.

Templetonsaidthe storm and itsimpact wereunusually severe.

"The effects of the weather system was much more wider spread, and the extent of the damage was much more wider spread. Most of our events in the past have been isolated to single communities," he said.

Yukon'sclaim still needs to beauditedbefore going to the federal government. Templeton said it could be a year before the territory knows how muchit will receive.

He said Yukon is also working on two other applications for disaster relief funds from Ottawa, but those claims are much smaller. One is associated with flooding in Mayo in 2010, and the other with flooding at Rock Creek near Dawson City, in 2009. Those two emergencies cost the territory just under $1 million, Templeton said.